Bedstead-fasten ing



UNTTED STATES FFICE.

PATENT -BEDSTEAD-FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 553,769, dated January 28, 1896.4

Application filed November 8, 1895. Serial No. 568,331. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, JAMES T. \VATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mossy Creek, in the county of Jefferson and State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bedstead Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to bedstead-fastenings; and it has for its object to provide a fastening for uniting the ends of the slats and the side rails of the bed in such manner that the side rails are prevented from spreading apart, and at the same time the cleats usually employed for supporting the slats are firmly and securely fastened to said side rails.

To these ends my invention consists in the novel features and in the construction or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiication, whereini Figure, 1 is a perspective View of a port-ion of a bedstead-rail and one end of a slat provided with my improved fastening. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through one end of the slat and the center of the bracket, showing the parts in position; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the parts detached.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the side rail of a bedstead, to which is secured the usual cleat 2, having at suitable intervals the usual notches or recesses 3, in which rest the ends of the bed-slats. As thus constructed, the bedstead is of ordinary and well-known construction, and in use the side rails are liable to spread apart and allow the slats to drop, and the slats do not aid in strengthening or bracing the bedstead.

In carrying out my invention I provide a bracket for each of the recesses in the cleats and two anged plates for each of the slats that are secured to the opposite ends of the latter and engage the brackets secured -to the side rails and cleats.

The numeral 4indicates one of said brackets, which is constructed of metal and consists of a plate 5, approximately equal in length to one of the recesses 3 in the cleats 2, and is provided at one edge with a vertical iiange (5, and at its opposite edge with a depending U-shaped flange 7. The plate 5 at `its center is provided with a screw-hole 8, and

.readily seen that to secure the slats in place it is only necessary to slip the depending iianges of the plates 14 secured to the slats into the U-shaped flanges 7 of the brackets 4. The slats are thus supported by the brackets, while at the same time the side rails are braced transversely by the slats and are prevented from spreading, thus rendering it impossible for the slats to fall to the floor. The slats also serve to brace the bedstead throughout its length, greatly strengthening the latter and relieving the corner-fastenings of strain and twists.

4By securing the brackets 4 to the side rails 1 and cleats 2 of the bedstead in the manner described, said brackets also serve as supports or fastenings for rigidly and firmly securing said cleats to the rails.

It will be noted that the plates 14 are not fastened to the extreme ends of the slats, but are fastened a short distance from the ends, so that when the plates are caused to engage the brackets in the manner described the ends of the slats will rest in the recesses of the cleats and prevent any lateral movement of the slats.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by means of my improved fastening the slats are not only supported in position, so as to prevent spreading of the rails, but that the brackets also serve as fastenings for aiding in securing the cleats to the rails, and that instead of the slats being weakened the ends of the latter are strengthened and prevented from splitting. It will also be apparent that the fastenings may be readily `applied to bedsteads ordinarily in use without altering the latter.

Having described my invention, what I claim is In a bedstead-fastening, the combination with a plate 14 adapted to be fastened to the IDO flange 7 overlapping the edge of the Cleat on the bed-rail, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JBIES T. VVATKINS.

Vitnesses ROY GonWIN, F. W. GALBRMTH. 

